Loading device.



Patented Mar. 17, 1914 3 SHEBTS-SKBET 1.

A. SMITH.

LOADING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 21, 1911.

INVENTOR 1; ATTORNEYS A. SMITH.

LOADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 21, 1911v 1,090,658. Patented Mar. 17; 1914.

3 BEHIND-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR W4 M M. mos/ms WI/NESSES A. SMITH.

LOADING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 1350.21. 19Hv Patented Mar. 17, 1914 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I g/T/JSSES: Z? 0 To all whom it may. coii rern citizen of the United AUGUSTUS SMITH, OF NORTH PLIAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB. TO THE BERGEN POINT IRON EORK$, OF BAYONNE, JERSEY, A COIQJORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

LOADING b'avicn.

I, Auousros SMITH, a. States of America, and

Be it known that residing at North Plainfield, in the county A to. a mechanism for automatically filling the of Somerset and State of New Jersey,have invented a certain newautl ilmproved Load-' ing Device, of which the following is a specification. I

My invention relates to an improved loading or charging apparatus, and particularly skip car or other transfercontamer.

In the following description of the-device and in the claims, when the ex ression hoisting device is employed,- it is to be understood that this expression is employed in a sense broad enough to include not only a vertical hoisting mechanism, but a hori: zontal or inclined transfer of the load from one position to another. Likewise when the expression skip is used this vis to be understood as describing a transfer container of any suitable character, whether-bucket, car, or otherwise.

Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of one embodi: ment of my invention; Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are similar views of variously-modified embodiments of said invention; and Fig; 6 is abroken elevation showing the conjugate in position to operate the filler harness. Figs.

and 8 are diagrammatic illustrations of the differential drum windings for the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 9 is a similar view ofa take-up device forslack when a plain drum is used in the Fig. I arrangecontinued ment.

The main object ofjny invention is to opmechanism (whether this be the o eniug o the gate to a discharge chute, the ti ting of a rotary filler, or other filling device) from the skip hoisting mechanism, the actuation of the filling mecha nism being so coordinated ,with the skip hoisting'mechanism that upon the arrival ofithe' skip in proper filling position the operation of the hoisting mechar, nism serves to while the skip remains stationary or practically stationary. This cooperation and coordination of'the hoisting and filling mechanism may be accomplishe in various ways and those illustrated are given merely byway of example as several Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 21,1911.

' i embodiments of the automatically actuate the. r 5 skip filling device, .50

Patented llIar. 17, 1914. Serial No. 667,073.

principle of my inven-- on. I In the forms illustrated I have attained the ob ect specified by a combination of 'a hoisting mechanism (preferably in the form of a differential drum of the type described 1n my Patent 929,508) 'for operatin apair of skips (or a skip and counterweigit) and a harness (Whether of rope, chain, links or levers) connected to the filling mechanism and so arranged and coordinated with relation to the hoisting mechanism that when the skip to be position, the conjugate skip or counter,- weight is in such position that. upon the continued operation of the hoisting mechanism the filling mechanism is actuated by the continued travel of the conjugate ski or counterweight after the skip to be filled has come to rest.

In Fig.1 two conjugate skips 10 and 11 are shown at opposite limits of their respective motion. These skips discharge alternately into the bin 14 after having been filled from the hoppers 1516 respectively.

n the form shown the skip fillers 17-18 are of the rotary type and are controlled by suitable harness, in the form of ropes 19 and 20 secured respectively at one end to said respective fillers and at their other ends to suitable stationary abutments. These ropes 19 and 20 are smarranged in the paths of the respective skips 10 and 11 that when, for example,'skip 10 is in filling position, the conjugate skip 11 or some part of it, for example, the pulleys 21-22 on the bail 23, engages the harness 19, controllin the filler 17, and actuates it upon the continued rotation of the drum 13; and vice versa, when" the skip 11 is in filling position. In order to avoid interference between. the hoistingrope 12 and the ropes 19, and 20 for the (.ll'ingmechanisms, each of the latter preferably comprises a lying one on each side of the hoisting rope.

f a simple cylindrical drum, instead of a difl'erential drum, be used for hoisting, the harnessengaging members might be carried directly by the hoisting rope instead of-being mounted on the bail'or other portions of the skips.- operation is the same, the principle involved being that a member conjugate to the skip being filled engages the harness for actuat filled arrives in proper filling pair of ropes,

In any case the method of hoisting drum be used,

ing the filling mechanism at approximately the same time (it may be just before or just after) the skip to be filled reaches its filling position and then by its continued motion actuates the filler through its harness. Dur ing this continued motion of the conjugateineinber, the skip being filled remains at 'rest. This may be accomplished in various ways. If a simple drum be used for hoisting, the skip to be filled may be stopped by any suitable bumper. If .a .difierential as is preferred, the skip will be automatically halted in filling position by so winding the hoistingrope thereon that at skip, the opposite ends of the rope run on and 03 equal diameters of the drum. In the form shown, the hoist of each skip is the same, but this need not be so, since by operating each skip through a separate hoisting rope and drums of different diameters geared together to insure synchronized rotation, one may be given a greater'travel than the other, as will be readily understood.

In Figs. 7 and 8 a diilerential drum arrangement is,illustrated with the hoisting ropes wound thereon to illustrate the skips 10 and 11 of Fig. 1 in their respective discharging and loading positions. The loop 12 carries skip 10 and the loop 12 carries skip 11. In Fig. 7 skip 10 has nearly reached the upper limit of .travel toward dumping position. Upon the reversal of the-drive, the right hand side of the loop 12 pays out and as the rope. runs off the larger diameter of the drum it pays out more rapidly than the left .hand side of the loop which is winding up on the smaller diameter. Consequently the loop lengthens and skip 10 travels downward. After the right hand side of the rope has run off the larger diameter of the differential, it unwinds from the smaller diameter at the same speed that the left hand side takes up. Consequently the skip is brought to rest. (Fig. 8.) While the loop 12 is lengthening, loo

12 is shortening by the winding of the le t hand end thereof on the larger diameter of its differential, while its rightha'nd end is paying oil the smaller diameter. The winding of the loops over their respective diflerentials is so predetermined at the travel extremes for the skips that while the ends of the loop 12 are running off and on portions of the same diameter of its (lifierential, (so that the skip 10 isstationary at the bottom of its travel), the ends of loop 12* are winding oil and on portions ters as skip 11 approaches the upper limit of its" travel and hence is still in motion, and vice versa. It is this motion of one skip while the other is stationary that is taken advantage of according to the present the filling position of the.

30 may return of ditlerent diame invention to actuate the skip filling meetinism. In Fig. 8 for e'xainple,-after the right hand side of the loop -12 has run off the large diameter of the difierential, the left hand side of loop 12 has still several turns to run on the larger diameter of its differential, before it reaches its smaller diameter. Consequently skip 11 is lifted while skip 10 is stationary.

In Fig. 9 one side of the hoistin mechanism of Fig. '1 is diagrammatica ly illustrated for an arrangement in which the hoisting rope is wound on a plain drum. Here the continued rotation of the drumafter the skip 10 has been stopped in filling position by its abutment, not only lifts skip 1-1, but results in a slack between the drum and skip 10 which must be taken up. The pulley m is consequently made vertically movable and a counterweight 2 lifts it as the slack is formed, thus keeping the rope taut. A like arrangement for the skip 11 takes care of its slack, in like manner, when it is halted in filling position, while skip 10 is finishing its upward travel.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 1 is du- One of these skips may be replaced plex.

y a counterweight 24, if desired, as in Fig. 2, and the operation is precisely the same as in Fig. 1 except thatthere is of course but a single filler and a single filler harness.

In Fig. stead of emptying into a common bin, one empties into the other and thelatter travels charged at a point spaced horizontallyia considerable distance from its receiving; (isiti'on. Here the hoisting rope 25 from the hoisting skip 26 up over the loose pulley 27 to the hoisting drum 13, and thence aver loosepulleys 28-29 to the conjugate transfer skip 30. The latter travels on the runway 31 which is inclined so that the skip by gravity to the position in which it receives its load from skip 26, but it will be understood that any suitable device may be employed to return skip'. 30 to its agceivi'ng position and to keep the hoistingrope taut. ing the filler 33 is arranged in the path of the skip 30 and' the latteridisplaces the harnessrope while discharging, thus simultaneously filling skip 26, which has come to rest. On'the reverse of the-hoisting drum down the incline reaching its'iec'ei'ving po sition as the skip 26 arrives discharg Skip 30 is held in the discharge of skip 26, by any suitab e means, for example, by the: hoisting rope running on and otl' ofsame size of the latter be employed.

In Fig. 4 the horizontally t-ravelingtran' s i The harness 32 for a'ctuat-' diameters 'efthe difierential drum, t the- 3 two skips are employed, but=in- -at an angle to the perpendicular, and is dis-i "nected to the (:Ulilll fer skip 34 is hauled back in one direction filler device and against gravit 1 by a rope 35 and countcrweight 38 while the hoisting skip 37 is operated in conjunction with said counterweight, the latter serving to operate the filler harness as in Pig. 2. The skip and counterweight are so operated by thehoish ing drum that the couuterweight reaches the low portion and stops before the skip reaches its up; :cr or discharging position, and vice versa. 'ilhc transfer sii l i l helm! con crweight by rope $35 will remain stznwnury, with the wiunterweig'ht, while the "p 37 continues to i; extreme upper position in order to dis, irge into said transfer skip.

In Fig. 5 two horizontally iravcling transfer skips 'lO--l;l shown, discharging alternately into a central bin tron) independent hopp rs. Here the skips move out-- ward under llainfluence of gravityin th shape of cmuiterwcights 43 respectively, the hoisting rope between the skips passing over he hoisting drum 13. The fillers 44, 45 are operated precisely as in Fig. 1 by the disrharging skip after its conjugate skip has reached its filling position. Of course the opcrzd ion of the hoisting drum is precisely the same whether the skips move horizontally or vertically, and I use the expression lnlisting mechanism in a sense broad enough to inchule a transfer mechanism whether the transfer is vertical, horizontal or inclined.

ln all of the arrangements llustrated, l have shown the conjugate car or counterweight arranged to pick up a rope or pair of ropes stretched across its path after the manner of a bow string and I prefer this arrangement for the reason that there is little weight in the rope and the initial motion of the gate or filler is infinitely small. when the conjugate member first picks up the'harncss rope. The motion of the filler or gate is gradually accelerated as the conjugate member displaces the harness. This avoids shock. I do not desire to limit my invention to the bow string arrangement however, for it is obvious that if a lever mechanism of any suitable form be arranged in the path of the conjugate it would likewise serve to actuate the gate or filler after the skip to be filled has come to rest in the manner described.

The essentials of my invention are a hoisting or transfer mechanism arranged to operate two moving bodies oncol' which is a skip to be filled and the other of which is a conjugate member, s that the conjugate member will continue to move with the hoisting mechanism for a short period after the skip to-be-fillcd has come to rest; together'with a filler device to charge the skipto-befilled, and a harness connected to said so arranged as to be actuated by the conjugate during its supplemental travel after the skip-to-be-filled has reached its filling position.

One corollary of the invention is the sto ping of the conjugate before the filled skip finishes its travel so that when the conjugate takes the form of a receiving skip, it can be arranged to remain stationary and receive its charge from the filled skip without the loss from spilling which would occur were both in motion. A second corollary of the invention is the fact that the skip and its conjugate are unbalanced during the last few moments of their motion in each direction and the extra load thus thrown on the hoisting mechanism serves to absorb the momentum of the moving parts and bring the hoisting mechanism to rest preparatory to a reversal of the direction of its rotation for the return trip.

As above stated, the arrangements shown are but illustrative embodiments of my invention and show how it may be variously modified in operating the filler mechanism by means of a conjugate member. Obviously however, various ways of operating the filler from the hoisting mechanism by the continued actuation of the latter after the skip has reached filling position will readily suggest themselves.

I claim as my invention 1. A hoisting mechanism comprising a skip, means for hoisting the same, and a filler device for charging the skip, in combination with means operated by the continued actuation of said hoisting means after the skip has reached its filling position, for operating said filler device.

2. A hoisting mechanism comprising a skip, means for hoisting the same, a filler device for charging the skip and a harness controlling said filler device, in combina lion with means controlled by said hoisting mechanism for engaging said harness, said harness engaging means being brought into actuating position by the continued actuation of said hoisting mechanism after the skip has reached its filling position.

3. A hoisting mechanism comprising a skip and a con ugate therefor, a filling device for the skip and a harness controlling said filling device arranged in the path of said conjugate and means for moving said conjugate aitcr the skip has reached its filling position, to actuate said filler.

4. A hoisting mechanism comprising a skip and a conjugate therefor and means for imparting a supplemental travel 'to said conjugate after the skip has reached its filling position, in combination with a filling device and operating means therefor engaged by said conjugiue during its supplemental travel, substantially as described.

5. A hoisting mechanism of the type described, comprising a skip and a conjugate therefor and hoisting rope and drum means for operating the same, in combination with a filling device and operating means therefor arran ed in the path of said conjugate member, tie winding of said hoisting rope being so arranged as to continue the travel of said conjugate member after the skip has reached its filling position and thus bring said conjugate member into actuating engagement with said operating means for the filling device.

6. A hoisting mechanism of the type described, comprising a skip and a con ugate therefor and means for arresting the travel of said skip in filling position during the continued travel of said conjugate, in combination with a filling device and a harness controlling the operation thereof, said harness being so arranged in the path of said conjugate as to be operated by the latter during the continued travel thereof after the skip has reached filling position.

7. A hoisting mechanism of the type described, comprising a skip and a conjugate therefor and means for arresting the travel of said skip in filling position during the continued travel of said conjugate, in combination with a filling device and a harness controlling the operation thereof, said harncss comprising a rope so arranged in the path of said conjugate as to be engaged by the latter and displaced during the conwhen. Wamusms tinued travel thereof after the skip has reached filling position.

8. A hoisting mechanism of the type described, comprising a skip anda con ugate therefor, a hoisting rope between said skip and its conjugate and means for arresting the skip in filling. position during the continued travel of said conjugate, in combination with a filling device and a harness controlling the operation thereof, said harness comprising a pair of ropes so arranged one on each side of said hoisting rope and in the path of said conjugate as to be engaged by the latter and displaced during the continued travel thereof after the skip has reached filling position.

9. A hoisting mechanism of the type described, comprising a skip and a con ugate therefor, a hoisting WALTER ABBE, HUBEn'r HoWsoN.

rope between said skip and its con ugate and means for arresting said skip in filling position during the con- 

